TKe Last Voyage !5
of 15he
Donna Isabel
By Randall Parrish
Author of Eob Hampton or Piactr.
Illustrations bv Dcaborn Melvill
what we've got here loUTis just 'a' "Bit
odd. i Ms nere Is a schooner-rigged
steam-yacht all right, an' I guess the
tonnage isn't very far out ot the Es
meralda class, but we haven't found a
blame Chilean on board two Swedes,
a Dutchman, two Kanakas, an' a
bloomln' English engineer."
"Well, what of that?" I broke In
Impatiently. "You know as well as I
do that the entire Chilean navy Is
filled with foreigners."
"Sure," he coincided, with a swift,
questioning glance toward me: "that's
all true enough, sir, but I never saw
a whole crew of those beggars an' no
Chilean bossln' 'em. But then that's
only a part of It. Every one of them
email boats down there, an' the life
preservers hangln' In front of the
cabin, have got the name Sea Queen
painted on them. Dam' if it ain't, here,
too, on this tarpaulin."
I bent over the rail looking down
at the lettering he pointed out, yet
with no feeling of uneasiness.
"Beyond doubt, that was the yacht's
name before the Chilean government
purchased her and renamed her Es
meralda for their service. She was
bought from English parties, I've
heard. Probably the new owners have
found no opportunity to repaint the
name."
Tuttle drew forth a red bandanna
and blew his nose, his voice more sul
lenly insolent as he resumed speech
"Glad ye take it so cool, an" maybe
yer right. However, it looks dam'
odd to me."
I glanced aside at the wheelman ap-1
prehenslvely. The fellow was gazing
straight ahead of him Into the rapidly
thinning fog. It was the manner of
the mate more than his words that Im
pressed me.
"See here, Mr. Tuttle," and I
dropped my hand rather heavily on
his sleeve, "kindly explain exactly
what you are driving at. Do you in
tend to insinuate that we have made
a mistake in the dark, and run oft
with the wrong vessel? Why, man,
that Is Impossible. We are sailors,
not landlubbers. Both of us have had
chances to see the Esmeralda, and you
certainly knew where she was moored
yesterday."
"Well, when l come to tnink it
over, I don't feel quite so everlasting
ly sure about that. The mind o' man
is mighty deceitful," he admitted.
slowly. "You see, I never saw her
any closer than maybe a mile, an'
even then she was half hid behind oth
er shippln'. Of course I took notice of
her outline an' rig, but I didn't pay
much attention to details. To night we
was all of us excited, an' colors don't
show up much In the dark! Now, her
funnel Is painted red, an' unless I'm
a liar the Esmeralda's was black with
a yaller stripe round the top. You
see, Mr. Stephens, we kept la pretty
close under cover all yesterday, an'
maybe they hauled the Esmeralda up
to the government docks, and run an
other boat into her anchorage."
I laughed aloud, not In the least Im
pressed with his arguineit.
"A very likely story that thtr wre
two vessels In that harbor so near
alike as to deceive all of us."
He remained stubbornly silent, evi
dently unconvinced, plucking at his
chin-beard.
There la a certain way of settling
matter." I went on, decisively,
"that is, by an examination of the pa
pers in the cabin. Take charge of the
brldae. and I'll run down and clear up
this affair beyond any further contro
versy. We may even have one or me
hin'n officers stowed away there,
ntt Mi late celebration. If
here is. he's due for a rudo awaken
ing. Keep the yacht's head as she is.
and I'll be back directly."
I was aware that he watched me
riniv I descended the steps, but
felt little Interest In such surveillance,
That we could have been guilty of so
serious an error as he suggested was
bevond Dosslblllty. Nevertheless the
mere suspicion was Irritating, leaving
nie filled with a vague unrest, u was
quite true that I might have been de
ceived. I realized that, because I had
enjoyed no opportunity to observe the
Esmeralda In daylight, and no occasion
to study her lines with care at any
time. To me she had appeared merely
as an extremely graceful vessel, in
teresting to the eye of a seaman. Hut
Tuttle and his crew must have known
the truth. It we were, indeed, on
board the wrong vessel, it was from
no innocent mistake of the darkness,
but rather the result of deliberate
plan, the full purpose of which was
beyond my comprehension. I swore
savagely under my breath, even as
laughed sarcastically at the vague sua
piclon, aroused largely, as I well
realized, by my Increasing dislike of
(be ex-whaleman. The wrong ship
Why, the very conception of such an
accident was grotesque, ridiculous, bo
clench:?. my hands, woade.la? if I
was really awake, aud stared back into
the frighteued eyes of the malJ, who
Pl.eared equally incapable of articula
tion. Suddenly she found voice.
I lt U not ze one, madame," she
; cried, shrinking back. "Noa, ncn; it
is un honime etranger."
i "What Is that you say. Celeste?"
i and the other arose swiftly to her
feet, the open book dropping to the
floor as she turned to face me. In
stantly I recognized her, in spite of
the Ions hair trailing unconflned far
. below her waist recognized her with
I a sudden leap upward of my heart into
j my thoat. There was no semblance of
rear, oniy unaissuisea amazement, in
the dark gray eyes that met mlue.
"What what is the meaning of this
strange intrusion? Are you a member
of the crew?"
Instantly my cap came off, the
thought occurring to me of what a
rough figure I must be making in my
soaked jacket, with the glistening
peak of my cap shadowing my face.
"No, madame;" and I bowed before
her "I am not one of your crew. My
my entrance here was entirely a
mistake."
She leaned forward, one white hand
grasping the back of her chair, the ex
pression in her eyes changing as she
read my face, perplexity merging into
faint recollection.
"I I do not quite comprehend," she
confessed at last, changing her speech
to a slightly broken Spanish. "You
you are Senor Estevan?"
us3
W rO
"See Here, Mr. Tuttle, Kindly Explain
What You Are Driving At"
We planted a large field of Straw,
Hats last fall. They all came up
fine and they are now past
blooming and ready to pick. You!
will find here values unobtain
able at home or abroad.
unn rnoo
UU VJ If at L-1 VJ
9
8l,$l.2i,l.i
J
h im
1, 82, 88.
Handsome shapes in narrow brim yachts and soft dip brims
Extra Special. Gents' Panamas $2.75, $3.50 up to $0.50
Boys Straw Hats 25c, 35c, 50c, 75c
yend belief! It wn the hallucination
of a fool. One of the men assisted me
to unbar tho slldo across the ronipnn
lonway. and, bidding him stand by
ready for a hall, I started below, my
flncers on the brass rnll, my feet f.rm
on the rubber lined stairs.
The-! led Into as hnndom a Hen-
parlor as ever I reiuetiiher gazing
upon. Everything was effective and
In elaborate taste, evidencing an ex
pendlture that made me stare about In
amazement. So deeply did it Impress
me that I remained there grasping the
the rail, gazing about In surprise, hesl-
tating to press my investigations fur
ther. Yet this feeling was hut mo
mentary, the very desertion and si
lence quickly convincing me that the
cabin contained no occupants. The
movement of the vessel, the trampling
of men on the deck, and the ceaseless
noise of the screw were more notice
able here than forward, and no Bea
man, however overloaded with liquor
he might have been the night before
could have slept undisturbed through
the hubbub and changes of the past
few hours.
Inspired to activity by this know!
edge, and eager to settle the identity
of our prize, I began closer examina
tion of that Impressive Interior, al
though not entirely relieved from the
spell of its royal magnificence. Six
doors, three upon each side, opened
oft from the main cabin. .The full-
length mirrors occupied the spaces be
tween, and the doors themselves were
marvels of decoration and carving.
Another, beneath the stairs, led di
rectly Into the steward's pantry, and
revealed, besides, a passageway lead
ing forward, probably to the lazaretto
amidships. The others, as I tried their
brass knobs, exhibited merely com
fortable staterooms, fitted up for offi
cers' use; three contained two bunks
each, the others only one. Four of the
beds had been carefully made, but the
remainder were in disorder, as though
quite lately occupied. Everything Im
pressed me as unusually clean and
neat, evincing strict discipline. The
only desk I noticed was a roll-top af
fair, securely locked, and with no lit
ter of papers lying anywhere about
This, I figured, was probably the berth
ot 'he first officer; the captain's room
would naturally be the one farthest
stern.
The upright piano, with the high
backed cushioned chairs surrounding
It, blocked my view aft, but on round
lng these I observed a closed door,
which apparently led Into a room
extending the entire width of th
cabin. Never suspecting that It might
be occupied, I grasped the brass knob,
and stepped within. Instantly I came
to a full stop, dazed by astonishment,
my teeth clenched In quick effort a
self-control. The entire scene burst
In upon my consciousness with that
first surprised survey the draped
portholes opening out upon the gray
fog bank, the brass bed screwed to
the deck, the chairs upholstered Is
green plush, the polished table with a
vase of flowers topping It, the glisten
ing front ot a book-case In the corner,
the tiger rug into which my foet sank.
All these things I perceived, .carcely
resizing that I did so, for my one
true Impression concentrated Itself
upon the living occupants.
There were two present. At a low
dressing table, her back toward me,
fronting a mirror, yet with eyes
fastened upon an open book lying In
her lap, sat a woman. The lowered
head yielded me only an Indistinct out
line of her features, yet the full throat
and rounded cheek gave pledge ot
both youth and beauty. Standing al
most directly behind her chair, with
short, curly locks, crowned by a smart
white cap, her hands busied amid her
mistresses' tresses, was a maid, petite,
rogulish, fluttering about like a hum
ming bird. Tho latter saw me at once,
pausing In her work with eyes wide
open In surprise, but the preoccupied
mistress did not even glance up. Sim
must have heard the sound ot the
door, however, for she spoke care
lessly :
"I thought you were never coming.
What caused you to sal) so suddenly?"
These unexpected words, uttered so
cnturally, served partially to arous
me from the dull torpor of surprise. I
CHAPTER VIII.
In Which I Begin Discovery.
Stunned by this abrupt disclosure
of the extremely dangerous predica
ment we were in, I found no Immedi
ate voice for reply, merely standing
there as if petrified, staring at them
both, cap In hand, grasping the edge
of the door. Their faces swam before
me in the gray light streaming
through the stern ports; the maid al
ready attempting a smile, as though
her fears had subsided, the mistress
viewing me In wondering perplexity:
She it was who fir St succeeded In
breaking the embarrassing silence.
"But, senor, what does this all
mean? Why are you here on board
the yacht?"
With strong effort at . control I
brought my senses together, desperate
ly fronting the disagreeable situation,
feeling myself scarcely less a victim
than she. It all that I now dimly bus
pected proved true, about us both were
being drawn the cords of treachery
"I cannot explain, madame," I be
gan lamely enough. "At least not
until I comprehend the situation bet
ter myself than I do now. It is all
dark. I have reason' to believe a most
serious mistake has been made one
ft will be very difficult to rectify. Per
haps I could see more clearly if you
would consent to answer a few ques
tlon. May I ask them of you?"
She bent her head slightly, Btill
Wescott
Where Quality.Counts
Sonus j
MATTERS IN
DISTRICT COURT
Hixon Goes Free on Account of
the Absence of the Prose
cuting Witness.
In district court yesterday the
case of the State vs. Charles Hlxon
was heard and Hjxon was freed.
The prosecuting witness, one W. M.
Thomas, fatted to appear and as this
was the second term at which case
had been Bet for hearing, proceed
ings were had and a jury Impan
neled which Judge Travis instruct
ed to return a verdict of not guilty
there being no testimony in the case
enzlnir riireetlv at mo with wldelv nnen . 01 material mi puna nee Bute inn ui
eves In which I read increasing be- 1 nomas inmseir.
wllderment. I believe she thought
me a crazed man, whom she must con
tlnue to humor.
"What vessel Is this?
"The steam yacht Sea Queen of Llv
erpool, owned by Lord Darlington,"
she announced, soberly, her face and
Hps white.
"How came you anchored off the
government docks?"
"By special permission ot the presl
dente. We were towed Into that berth
early last evening, after the Esmer
alda had been hauled up against tha
quay to ship armament and stores.'
I drew a deep breath, clenching and
unclenching my hands.
"Could you tell me if It was known
to others that you contemplated
anchoring there?"
She hesitated, her Hps slightly apart,
one hand pressed against her tern
pie.
"It Is most important that I learn
the exact truth," I urged, earnestly,
"I ask from no idle curiosity."
I am not generally consulted In
such matters, senor," she admitted,
"but I believe wa had been waiting
several days for the opportunity to
take that position,
been told."
She seemed to be awaiting my ex
planatlon, striving to be courteous, yet
with her Impatience slightly evidenced
by the continual tapping ot her foot
on the rug. But I was not yet
through with my questioning.
"Were no officers loft on board last
night?"
Her gray eyos widened.
"Certainly yes; the first offlcor and
the englneor were In charge when I re
tired. The others, with the majority
of the crew, had gone ashore at sun
down to enjoy the fun. But why do
you ask, senor? Are these not on
board now?"
"I regret being compelled to answer
no. Only the engineer, three ot the
harbor watch, and some Kanaka fire
men have been found. I have discov
ered no trace of the first officer."
"Then then he must have rowed
ashore with two of the men!" sho ex
claimed. "How chanced you to bo left here
alone?"
She hesitated, her hands clasped
on the chalrback, her bosom rising
and falling tremulously. Yet finally .he
forced her lips to reply, as though thus
seeking the quickest way ot clarifying
the situation.
"We wore all Invited to tha palace
of the pmsldente, to listen to the
speeches and view the fireworks. Lord
Darlington was greatly Interested,
and most desirous of attending. The
unfortunate scene which occurred at
tho hotel early In the evening left
mo, however, with so severo a head
ache that I hogged to be allowed to re
main here alone with Celeste. At first
both Lord Darlington and mamma re
fused to depart without me, but who"
(To lie rontlnm ih
This case was the one which
happened last fall when Thomas was
badly beaten up by Hixon at the home
of the former south of this city near
the Burlington bridge. Acording to
the tale which Thomas told, he had
been sent by the children ot Hlxon
to come up to his house from Chas.
Miller's where he was staying and
after going up there Thomas claimed
Hixon beat him so badly that he was
almost unable to get back to Miller's.
Hlxon claimed that Thomas had been
making himself abnoxlous to his
(Hlxon's) wife and that he had been
warned to stay away from the house
yeas, the next five years being spent
under penalty of being hurt. This
Is is claimed he did not do but at
tempted to visit the house while he
thought Hixon was away.
After Thomas had recovered from
the effects of the beating he received,
he stayed about the city for some
time and talked loudly of the bitter
prosecution he intended to carry on
against Hlxon but finally left the
This is as I have country and got Into Iowa. This was
shortly prior to the date Bet for the
first trial. He made It convlent to
remain In Iowa ever since but re
cently stated he would come here and
prosecute providing the Btate would
pay him five dollars a day and his
expenses. This the county attorney
could not see his way clear to do
with the consequence that the cane
ended as above stated.
From Thomas' actions in the case
It is evident he was no good and not
disposed to treat anyone right and It
serves to substantiate Hlxon's story
of the trouble and to Justify his beat
ing the fellow up.
Assault Case Trial.
Judge Travis and a Jury In district
court yesterday afternoon and this
morning were engaged in hearing the
case of the State vs. John Flelsner
charged with assault with Intent to
do great bodily injury upon Charles
Burke. This is the case which came
up a few weeks ago when Burke
was badly beaten up down in the
Burlington yards.
Flelsner and a man named John
Mercer were the men whom Burke
charged with the crime which arose
over a division of meals among the
men. All of them were tramps and
were unknown In tho city. The evi
dence for tho state was confined to
Burke's testimony which was sub
stantially as printed In the Journal,
to the madlcal testimony touching
the wounds Burke received and to
admissions made by the defendant
Flelsner. The county attorney found
there was no case against Mercer
and he was released. The defendant
offered no testimony except that of
the defendant who admitted the as
sault but claimed self defense as he
claimed Burke was about to strike
him with a pair of pliers when he;
the defendant, seized a bridge bolt
and struck Burke over the head three
or four times. The pliers and what
purported to be the bolt were placed
In evidence, the former being taken
from the defendant at the time of
his arrest and the latter being af
terwards found near the scene of the
crime by Chief Ralney. The defend
ant made a good witness for him
self telling a straight forward Btory
and admitting he lost his temper
when he saw Burke with the pliers.
The case went to the Jury about
noon.
Came Home Quick.
The writer spent a few hours In
the thriving little village of Cedar
Creek last Saturday morning. We
stepped from the east-bound morn
ing passenger train, knowing that it
would be Impossible for us to get
home until In the evening, unless by
chance we came across someone com
ing to the county Beat by private
source. By the time we had finished
our business, our friend, John Gauer
rolled into town with his auto to
bring J. F. Wolff and wife and C. E.
Metzger down to the ball game.
Mr. Gauer kindly gave us a Beat be
side him in his "goer," and we came
home and in very Bhort order, too.
Talk about your automobiles, but
Mr. Gauer has the one to suit our
fancy, and John knows how to handle
It to perfection. It Is one of the
Mitchell make, and we believe Just
the kind of a roadster that will suit
many who desire to Invest In an auto.
Mr. Gauer-is agent for this machine,
and those who may desire to pur
chase a good, up-tn-datn auto should,
see John and examine tho one he
has before they make a purchase.
Talk about going Borne, we came
dow n quicker than the Schuyler could
have brought us, and we desire to
thank Mr. Gauer for the courtesy.
We also desire to return thanks to
our friend, C. E. Metzger, for favors
shown us during our brief stay In
Cedar Creek.
The case of the state vs. John
Clarence charged with the murder
of John P. Thacker near Union In
January last, is set for trial tomorrow
and will be the most Important case
to be heard at this term of court.
It will doubtless attract a large
crowd from Union and Murray where
the parties are bo well known and
probably will take several days to
try. Matthew Gerlng will assist
County Attorney Ramsey to prose
cute the case while Byron Clark will
defend.
Foot Seriously Injured.
A young man employed trimming
walnut logs for shipment was very
seriously cut yesterday afternoon by
his ax slipping and the keen blade
entering his foot virtually severing
two of his toes. With a fortitude
which was astolshlng he made no
outcry although the Injury was a
very painful and severe one. Mr.
Hatfield, the purchasing agent, was
present when the acldent happened
and he at once hurried the unfortun
ate man Into a' buggy and drove to &
surgeon's office where the injury was
dressed. It wns found on examina
tion that it was more severe than
had been thought and It Is more
than possible he may lost at least
two of the toes. Even should he be
able to save them, It will be a very
long time before he will be able to
use the foot to any advantage. He
Is an expert In his line and the ac
cident was one of the unavoidable
kind which follow the profession.
In This City.
Charles II. Bailey a well known
Cass county boy who has bien spend
ing his late years in the Argentine
Republic In the interests of the In
ternational Harvester Company, ar
rived In the city yesterday morning
for a visit with his aged father.
He fxpects to remain several weeks
In this ilty and vicinity. Mr. Bailey
left Argenlne In January last and
for the past two months he has been
In Chicago, 111., nt the headquarters
of the company. Mr. Bailey holds an
Important position with the company
leing In chnrge of setting up nnd
pluiiiin in operation machines In
Argentine. It takes several weeks to
ko from ClilcnRo to Buenos Ayres. be
having to go first t London and
thence to tho Republic. Mr. Bailey
reports that the wheat crop in Argen
tine Is not near up to the standard
yield the past season and condi
tions are not so favorable there as
In years past when he visited that
country. Ho brings home with him
a curiosity well worth seeing In the
shape of a rawhide bridle. This
looks odd to our northern eyes but
It Is an artistic piece of work and
tho material Is such that It will
wear until I ho end of time almost.
It cost him four dollars and a halt
In American money ami it Is well
worth much more than that nnd he
could rnslly dispose of It for more
than It cost him. Mr. llalley la
full of d'ilghtful descriptions of the
southern republic nnd Its p-'ot.te nnd
a very entertaining talker.
James A. Walker, the veteran Mur-
rayte, Is spending today In the city
attend to business matters.
HAD QUIT WORK
READY TO GIVE UP IN DESPAIR
Restored to Health By Vino!
"I was sick, run-down and finally
had to give up work. After trying
a number of remedies and aeveral phy
sicians, I was Just about ready to give
up In despair. I saw Vlnol ad
vertised' and decided to try it,
and It has done more good for
me than all other means combined. It
has built me up and restored my
strength until I now tool twenty years
younger, and am able to attend to my
work .again as usual." Job Jeavons,
1038 Llnd streot, Wheeling, W. Va.
The reason Vinol Is so successful In
such cases Is because It contains tonla
iron and all of the strengthening
blood-maklug and body-bulldlng ele
ments of cod liver oil, but no oil.
Vlnol Is unexcelled as a strength
creator for old peoplo, delicate children,
weak, run-down persons, and after
sickness nd is the best known rem
edy for coughs, colds and bronchitis.
We return your money If Vlnol fails
to give satisfaction.
